Happy February! & {Quote of the Week}

Happy February! 

Wow, where did a whole month go?

I have been crazy-busy with work and school (three-hour long classes that don't end until 9:40pm... ughhh). But other than that, I've been doing homework, reading some amazing books, and attempting to get some time to relax in there. 

Which leads me to the quote of the week:

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

-Lena Home

This quote serves as a reminder that you are strong enough to handle what life sends your way, and if it seems like too much (which it often does), find a different way to carry it. Take deep breaths. Pick something manageable to start with, and everything will be okay.

I'm a really big list-person. I love lists. There's something so rewarding about being able to check off something, and when my list is done, I feel so relaxed! 

I make one big list for my week and divide it up into the days, and you know what? If it doesn't all get finished, it is not the end of the world.

Make sure you add some de-stress time to your list or your life!

It helps, I swear. 

xoxo

Announcements! - {January 2014}

With the new year comes new adventures, and so here are a few announcements as to what's going to happen in 2014 for me:

• I have the privilege of being the maid of honor at one of my closest friend's wedding in September, so I'm sure there will be lots of wedding-related posts to come!
• I will be taking a few more Early Childhood Education classes; they're all at night, though. I will try to keep updating this blog, but I'm going to be very busy until May! 
• One of these classes is curriculum planning, so expect a lot of posts about preschool crafts and curriculum!

That's all for now - my schedule is going to be super busy!

I will try to post regularly but with such a busy schedule, I'm going to have to take extra time to do so!

xoxo

Pre-K Wednesday: Our Bunny!

Meet our bunny! 

She is just so fluffy and adorable, and the kids love her a lot. Mostly they watch her hop around in her crate, but every so often we let the bunny hop around our large rec room. The children have to be reminded often not to chase her but they certainly enjoy tip-toeing behind her around the room. Petting and feeding the bunny is always an exciting task, and more than once a child has tried to give her carrots from their own lunch! 

This week, we did an activity that included our bunny:

What do bunnies like to do?

We received a variety of answers, but the most common answers were: "Hop!" and "Eat carrots!"

That was perfect because we were writing the answers on carrot construction paper. 

I liked doing this activity because it reminded the kids of how much they are involved with our class pets, and they love talking about the bunny at home!

xoxo

First Day(s) of Classes

Last week, my classes began! We only have ten short weeks to learn all that we need to, so I have been reading like mad and trying my best to stay focused. There is a lot of coffee in me at almost all hours of the day.

I have found that success in my classes also has to do with something else: how I present myself. I am a firm believer in dressing for success. When I wear yoga pants and a sweatshirt, all I want to do in class is snooze. And with professors who call on me (supposedly at random) often, I cannot afford to snooze in class. So I will dress for class, even jeans will do, and down some coffee.

And study until I can keep my eyes open no longer.

 

What do you do for success in class?

 

xoxo

Quote of the Week 9/30/2013

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." 

-Julia Child

I have found things that I am passionate about. Many things. But usually they do not keep my attention for very long. My passion for the last two years of my studies has been the Italian language and culture. It fascinated me; I was always wanting to learn more.

But as of late, my passion for not only the language but the culture, too, has grown weak. I am taking two history classes related to Roman culture and so, Italian culture. And I am also taking a class, taught in Italian, about opera. And I am falling apart a little bit. I feel incredibly behind already, and I am at a loss. I want so dearly to love my major, to regain that passion, but these classes (especially the opera class) are making me detest everything I once loved and wanted to know more about. 

So, I will remind myself that it is only a quarter: ten weeks of my life. Then I can hopefully find some better classes, like Italian art history, or something to do with Italian literature that doesn't bore me to tears. 

Until then, I will attempt to listen to Julia Child. I will try my hardest to keep tremendously interested in my passion. 

What is your passion and what are you doing to keep it interesting?

xoxo

Pre-K Wednesday: Zucchini Bread and Graduation!

Our homemade zucchini bread

We made zucchini bread with the kids this week! We let them grate the zucchini into small bits and allowed them to measure out our other ingredients. The zucchini was from our garden! It was a fun and time-consuming activity. We used a recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens' New Cook Book. You can buy the book here or see the recipe below:

Zucchini Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. 

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. baking powder, and 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg. In another mixing bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup shredded unpeeled zucchini, 1/4 cup cooking oil, 1 egg, and 1/4 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel. Add flour mixture and stir until combined. If you please, stir in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts before pouring batter in a 8x4x2-inch loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, remove bread from pan and cool thoroughly on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing, makes 1 loaf (16 servings). 

Enjoy!

Graduation cupcakes

Many of the families were excited for their children to graduate for the first time ever, and one mom even made these great graduation cupcakes! She used funfetti cupcake mix (I'm in my twenties and funfetti is still my favorite). She made the graduation "caps" with a lollipop stick, a Reese's peanut butter cup, Hershey's chocolate (2 pieces per cap), an M&M, a sour worm-type candy, and melted chocolate as "glue." 

They turned out so cute! 

Hope your baking adventures are turning out delicious! 

xoxo

Wishlist: Back-to-School 2013 Edition

Since the new school year is getting closer, I decided to start a wishlist! Of course, I won't be purchasing most of these things since I'm saving for tuition for the next two years, but that's why it's called a wish-list, right?

A notebook or two from May Designs, about $17-20 each. I'm in love! 

Gramercy Hidden Zipper Satchel, $54 from Francesca's

Lilly Pulitzer academic sticker set, $6 from Lifeguard Press

"Merde, il pleut (Shit, it's raining)" Umbrella for $45, Buy here

Brave New World crewneck, $42 from Out of Print

What are you wishing for this Fall?

Much love, 

Caryn Elizabeth